Sway bar in the rain |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Topic: Sway bar in the rain Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 6:51am |
mcarter, great information. Thanks for clarifying. Just drove back home from the WV mountains monday in the rain from Florence with the sway system engaged, makes me cringe now....
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:10am |
Kind of a judgement call. Really about conditions where the trailer can lose traction, if that makes sense. If it does the sway bar can have a negative effect, by allowing the trailer to not follow directly behind the TV. For the same reasons, it is why it's recommended you don't back up with sway bar enabled.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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Happy Tripping
Senior Member Joined: 27 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 473 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:45am |
Ok, there is potential danger when driving on 'wet', 'gravel', 'icy' or 'snowy' conditions due to loss of traction. Ice or snow of course are bad in themselves, with or without a sway control. On wet or gravel roads, we should just slow down out of prudence, anyway, and especially on turns. I'm curious, doesn't slowing down then take care of any sway problem by itself, and therefore the necessity for the sway control bar? Also, is this potential hazard true for weight distribution hitches too, which aren't so easy to remove.? |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:45am |
Makes total sense mcarter. I can visualize hydroplaning the trailer wheels which in turn breaks the TV wheels lose via torque transmitted forward by the antisway system. Thanks again for making that clear.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 8:49am |
This may apply for a friction sway control bar, but I likewise question its validity for all situations. For example, the Equal-i-zer hitch I used to have would not have the ability to loosen the bars without affecting the WD which in turn would have made the front (steering) end of the TV lighter and would have made control more difficult. The Hensley hitch I have now also does not have the ability to lessen sway control since the way it is built, the TV must initiate turning. I think situational awareness and slowing down when conditions make traction questionable is the best way to address this.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 9:39am |
Though it has been a while since I read the stuff, I recall nothing in the paperwork for my E2 600/6000 regarding disconnecting during rain/snow/gravel. I've towed lots on gravel and rain and lived to tell of it. It would be interesting if those who own the various brands & types would send an email to the manufacturers of their equipment and see if they care to comment on the situation. |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 9:43am |
Sorry Guys but I'm not buying it yet. If left free to wander the trailer can exert all kinds of steering forces on the TV. With the sway system connected the TT has to act through the lever arm created by the front and rear wheels of the TV. The TV wheels usually have more weight on them and better slip resistant tires so they should hold better than the TT tires. Has anyone found another source other than Reese? If this is true any of us with Equal-i-zer, E2, Hensley or Andersen hitches are in trouble. BTW, the reason friction sway controllers should be disconnected when backing is they will bend or break under the sharp angles encountered while backing. The friction device cannot withstand large compression forces and it crumples.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2652 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 9:50am |
Secondly.... Towing your TT in snow or ice might be a questionable activity to begin with...
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 10:50am |
A bit more reading and thinking and I conclude the problem is limited to the friction devices. These devices cannot withstand the severe compression forces generated if the trailer breaks free and swings sideways. Equal-i-zer, E2, Andersen, Hensley? No sweat; camp on.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 3:40pm |
I agree with CharlieM, years ago I had a WDH, like David don't recall a warning. The warning was in install instructions with a friction sway.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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